Call for Papers: Shia Islam and Modern Society

The conference will provide a platform for scholars to explore the relationship between Shia Islam and modern society, with a focus on themes such as science and technology, politics and democracy, women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, and other pertinent issues.

Massey University of New Zealand and the Indiana University Center for the Study of the Middle East are pleased to invite scholars from around the world to participate in our second joint conference on “Shia Islam and Modern Society” on November 30 and December 1^st,  2023, at Indiana University Bloomington. The conference will provide a platform for scholars to explore the relationship between Shia Islam and modern society, with a focus on themes such as science and technology, politics and democracy, women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, and other pertinent issues.

The conference will take place in a hybrid format, in-person and Zoom attendance, to provide an opportunity for a diverse range of participants to engage in meaningful discussions and exchange of ideas. We welcome submissions of original research papers that offer critical insights into the relationship between Shia Islam and modern society, drawing on multidisciplinary approaches, theoretical frameworks, and empirical evidence.

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Submission Guidelines

Abstracts of 150-200 words should be submitted to Dr. Carl Pearson by email, pearsonc@iu.edu, by August 1, 2023. Accepted authors will be notified by August 31, 2023, and are expected to submit a full paper by October 30, 2023. Papers should not exceed 6,000 words (including references) and should be formatted according to the Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition).

Conference Goals

Our goal is to publish the most distinguished conference papers in a book to be published by Indiana University Press. This publication will offer a comprehensive and insightful contribution to the academic discourse on Shia Islam and its intersections with contemporary issues in modern society.

Possible topics of interest include but are not limited to:

Shia Islam and modernity: challenges and opportunities

Shia Islam and scientific inquiry: implications for the modern world

Shia Islam and democratic governance: prospects and challenges

Women’s rights and Shia Islam: progress and challenges

LGBTQ rights and Shia Islam: inclusivity and diversity

Shia Islam and cultural identity: challenges and opportunities in a globalized world.